Cuillin Ridge Traverse

We met up on the Saturday morning in glorious weather and headed up to Coire na Banachdich to hide the bivvy gear away for a start of the traverse on Sunday.

We stayed in the motor home near the Sligachan for Saturday night and somehow managed to avoid getting carried away in the pub, we'd waited too long for this attempt to blow it by over indulgence Sunday morning wasn't too bad with low cloud covering the hills, we set off from Glen Brittle at about 6:30am.

We made hard work of getting up to Ghas bheinn which meant it was already 10:30am before reaching the start of the traverse.

Time for a quick bite to eat

The midges had the same idea

On Ghas bheinn

Abbing in to the TD gap but it had become quite damp so we dropped down to the scree slopes and bypassed the climb directly out of the gap. Plus the fact that we'd accidentally forgot to pack any nuts or wires A tad annoying especially after spending time the night before selecting a compact rack to take up!! Doohhhh

The skies cleared by the time we reached the Innpin but decided to tackle that first thing in the morning and head off to get some well needed food and sleep

Bivvy in Coire na Banachdich

Not the worst morning I've ever woken up to

First thing on the agenda was the Innpin. The rock was dry and perfect conditions

I couldn't quite pluck up the bottle to stand upright on top

But Luke shows how it's done

Abbing off the Innpin

The conditions and views just couldn't have been better

Finally made it to Sgurr nan Gillean at 18:30

Extremely chuffed to have completed the traverse

Perfect time to head off the South east ridge and practically ran back to the Sligachan for several celebratory beers.Note to self: Wear gloves next time!!!It took 2 weeks before I was able to sign into my computer with fingerprint recognition

Re: Cuillin Ridge Traverse

Posted: Thu Oct 15, 2015 10:49 pm

by dav2930

Congratulations on a big achievement. Deposting bivi kit at the Banachdich Bealach sounds like a good tactic, giving two relatively manageable days. It looked like you were carrying all your kit from Bealach Coire na Banachdich onwards though? The logistics of doing the ridge are a nightmare and I still can't decide which is the best way to do it.

I'm curious to know how you tackled Am Basteir - did you take in the Tooth or double back from Bealach a' Bhasteir? Anyway, terrific stuff and some cracking photos - the last one (looking down Gillean S.E. ridge to Sgurr na h-Uamha) is especially striking.

Re: Cuillin Ridge Traverse

Posted: Thu Oct 15, 2015 11:01 pm

by malky_c

Amazing conditions, particularly at the beginning and end . Spent two years on the trot camping in Sligachan and recce-ing the bits we didn't know, but never got the weather at the right time. I think you just have to seize the moment and go for it. Top stuff

Re: Cuillin Ridge Traverse

Posted: Thu Oct 15, 2015 11:09 pm

by Silverhill

A fantastic achievement! I'm very envious!

Re: Cuillin Ridge Traverse

Posted: Thu Oct 15, 2015 11:27 pm

by mgmt!

Top Trumps, fantastic photos, nowt better in the uk

Re: Cuillin Ridge Traverse

Posted: Fri Oct 16, 2015 8:19 am

by wilkiemurray

Fantastic - well done and what amazing photos and weather to wake to

AT

Murray

Re: Cuillin Ridge Traverse

Posted: Fri Oct 16, 2015 8:59 am

by gman

Great stuff, bet those beers at the Sligachan tasted good

Re: Cuillin Ridge Traverse

Posted: Fri Oct 16, 2015 9:19 am

by johnrich

dav2930 wrote:Congratulations on a big achievement. Deposting bivi kit at the Banachdich Bealach sounds like a good tactic, giving two relatively manageable days. It looked like you were carrying all your kit from Bealach Coire na Banachdich onwards though? The logistics of doing the ridge are a nightmare and I still can't decide which is the best way to do it.

I'm curious to know how you tackled Am Basteir - did you take in the Tooth or double back from Bealach a' Bhasteir? Anyway, terrific stuff and some cracking photos - the last one (looking down Gillean S.E. ridge to Sgurr na h-Uamha) is especially striking.

We did carry all our kit from Banachdich but it wasn't too bad, plus the morning after I'm so glad we did I originally planned to drop down south of Am Basteir at bealach nan Lice and tackle it from there but at the last minute changed our minds and did the double back from Bealach a' Bhasteir

Re: Cuillin Ridge Traverse

Posted: Fri Oct 16, 2015 9:35 am

by Mal Grey

Superb. How lucky to get those conditions on the second day!

I attempted this once, but got so cold and wet in the bivi on Garsbheinn (we went toolight, relying on clothing and an old plastic survival bag), it was drizzling for the first 3 hours, and we binned it at Coire a Ghrundda. Of course, 4 hours later it was blue skies...

If I ever go and try again (but too scared now!), I'd split it like you did rather than bivi at the start.